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Tibbits Opera House
Proscenium arch
In 1882, Barton S. Tibbits financed the construction of Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, Michigan. Mr. Tibbits spent his fortune to build this grand theatre and died financially broke having spent all he had to give his gift of a theatre to generations of people.
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Tibbits Opera House was a very attractive stop along State Route US 12 for traveling performers moving between Detroit and Chicago. The theatre has hosted Vaudeville acts and many famous entertainers have captivated audiences over the years including P.T. Barnum, Ethel Barrymore, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Bob Newhart and more recently Mickey Rooney, Jeff Daniels and John Corbett.
After a 25 year run as the local movie house, the theatre was closed in 1954 and stood vacant and fading. A group of local citizens joined together to save Tibbits from the wrecking ball in the 1960’s. They did a great job of restoring the theatre. Their efforts allowed Tibbits to
once again function as a viable theatre offering local community theatre productions, children’s programming, a professional summer theatre season, touring performing acts, comedians, musicians, the annual Rotary show and more.
Now the time has come, some 40 years later, to again restore Tibbits Opera House to ensure that the theatre can continue to offer cultural and artistic programming for future generations. To not act now will cause the further deterioration of this important piece of Michigan and American history and could ultimately lead to the City of Coldwater losing a community treasure.
